Ultrasound Parameters for Athletic Training

Ultrasound is often used to treat sports related injuries. Parameters are the settings that athletic trainers use in these treatments. Various settings can be used for different results on a range of injuries, including, sprains, strains, and severe bruising.

  1. Frequency

    • Frequency is measured in pulses per second. This parameter affects the depth of the ultrasound vibrations. It is measured in mega hertz (MHz). Large muscles and deep tissue injures are treated with .1 MHz setting. 3 MHz setting is for surface injuries.

    Duration

    • The total amount of time of the ultrasound treatment is called the duration parameter. Once set, the ultrasound machine will stop automatically.

    Duty Cycle

    • During the treatment, the time that the ultrasound is active is called duty cycle. The cycle can be set to between 20 to 100 percent of the total treatment time. 100 percent duty cycle produces constant heat in the tissue. Lower settings are for more serious injuries requiring little or no heat.

    Intensity

    • The intensity is the strength of the vibrations produced by the ultrasound. Athletic trainers use .1 watt per centimeter setting for superficial injuries. A setting of 3 watts per centimeter is used for deep injuries or large muscle areas of the body.